The Stronger Passion

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 5

The Stronger Passion

By

Rowan Glen .

Author of " The Great Anvil. The Best Gift of AH," For Love or for Gold." &c . &c.

y CHAPTER X.—Continued. "I’ve acted like a swine, sir. I’ve gone straight since I left Dartmoor, except for trying to get money out of you. I’m going to be straight from now on, s’elp me. Gawd! Anyway, if I’ve been black, you’re white. I haven’t said a word about, you, except to that young lady, and I never will.” “That’s all right,” said Macßae. j “Stick to your promise, Noakes —to go straight. I mayn’t see you again, but l wish you well.” He shook hands with Noakes again, and this time two live-pound notes were left in the little Cockney’s feeble hand. Because he was no dancer, it was against his will that Macßae had promised to be present at a ball held in the Royal Stag Hotel, in Dochrine; a ball arranged to further the financial interests of a local charity He had been going through days of half-wretchedness when his everpresent hatred of Mr. Justice Hart represented all his world. He had seen little of Elaine, and this perhaps because he had not sought her out. But he knew that she had been much in Maurice Rollingward’s company, and lie knew, too, that the latter’s friendship with Lilian Man ton seemed to have been set aside temporarily. It was with no good grace, therefore, that he dressed for the dance in Docht'ine, and with no good grace that, arrived at. the hotel there, he found that, as oue of the local lairds, he was expected to display an enthusiasm and a Seuiality entirely opposed to his mood. Elaine, so it seemed, had fallen away from him. He could think of other phrase describing with any adequacy her altered attitude. Since his motor-trip with her, they had not met, save when a third party was present. Neither had he spoken intimately to her father, nor to Rollingward. But though dancing held no appeal I°r him. and though he knew himself r ° be awkward in a ballroom, he did dance with Elaine twice in the first Part of the programme-*—danced with her as though they were the merest of acquaintances. Macßae had not thought it possible that the girl who had admitted her for him could be so cold; could

maintain for so long her attitude of distrust. As skilfully as might be, he strove to draw her back toward their old footing, but just as skilfully—and much more definitely—she refused to be so drawn. And then, while he was searching for her, keenly desirous to discover whether or not the change was genuine and was meant to be permanent, he came on her and Rollingvard. Before he saw them, and while they were unaware that anyone had disturbed their privacy, he heard Blaine say: “Very well,, then, Maurice! If you're content with my conditions, I'll do what you and father want.” Clamour in his brain, Macßae moved forward. He saw Rollingward put his hands out to Elaine and draw her close to him. She was apathetic; resistless. Slowly, Rollingward lowered his face to hers. Fire seemed to run through MacRae then. “What's all this?” he demanded, as he stepped toward them. "What’s the meaning of this?” AT THE DANCE CHAPTER XI ■ For a second or two the others regarded him almost incredulously. Then while Elaine, with the colour flooding her face, stirred. Rollingward rose ahd answered their ,questioner irritably. For the time being he had discarded his customary geniality and boyishness. ••' What's the meaning of this’?” hcrepeated. “I think it's I who should be askiug that —I. or Elaine here. I d like to know by what right you come barging into a private conversation? I didn't think that spying or eaves- j dropping would have been in your j line.” Macßae bowed slightly. “Thanks. I'm neither a spy nor an eaves-dropper. I was searching for Elaine, and i hadn't thought to find her in this part of the hotel. I was on my way to the lounge. if you don’t understand my question. ! Rollingward. then Elaine certainly j does.”

He turned to her and knew instantly that she. too, had resented his question. Worse than that, her pride had been i

d. coming man. stung. She felt as Rollingward felt —that she had been chided unjustly and high-handedly; that she had been made to appear foolish. “Elaine?” Macßae asked. “What am I to make of this?” She moved white shoulders and it was while watching her as she strove to control herself and to answer him calmly that Macßae knew at last., and quite certainly, the meaning of that subtle change in himself which had given, him so much cause for worry of late. His mental blindness was over and done with. Coldly, cruelly perhaps—and convinced that there was no slightest possibility of his affected sentiment ever becoming genuine—he had planned to make this girl care for him.

Till now he had been helped in his schemes by the comfortable assurance that not even so wonderful a girl as Elaine Hart could draw him, either willingly or unwillingly, towards love. But he knew now, and. knowing, was dazed by a jumble of lights so per piecing in their brilliance that he almost cursed that brilliance. On that night when he had first dined at The Lodge as Sir Charles Hart’s guest, he had recognised, as indeed no one save a dullard could have failed to recognise, that Elaine was a girl fashioned to create soft havoc among men. He had studied her. then, without the slightest flicker of anything beyond interest and that admiration which it was natural for hint to give to all beautiful things. He had noted that beauty; her gentleness; the allure of her personality: and her general desirability. Now she was desirable in no general way. He desired her; loved her: wanted her to share what remained of his life-story. A matter of days earlier she had listened to him speaking of love and had answered him as he had hoped that she would answer. Now it seemed that he was to lose her. or at least where he was concerned, that she had known not merely a change of mind, but a change of heart. Years of suffering had taught him to bear pain with a certain stoicism and. as he had said slangily once, to bluff things along. That training helped him loyally now. and he was able to watch without flinching the eyes of the woman whom he loved, and to hide any sign of tumult which was shaking him when she said: “I agree with Maurice—Blair. T j don’t see why you should be putting ; the questions. Still, I’ll answer the j one that I expect you’ve got at the < back of your head. Maurice and T are going to be married ” “You’re—what?” N “We’re going to be married.” “Elaine! But this is crazy stuff you’re talking! Look here, we've got a chance to speak now when there’s no one around except our three selves. Let’s be dead honest. I don’t know. Rollingward. what you’ve said to Elaine, or what she’s said to you about ; me. But if she hasn’t told you that I asked her to marry me and that she

agreed, then she should have done that.” “She has told me, Macßae, but she’s told me, too, that there was no real engagement between you. You’d fixed to announce that—and then things sort of came unstuck. I can quite understand that you must feel a bit sore, but you can’t blame Elaine for having changed her mind. You can’t blame me. either. 1 asked her to marry me before you came on the scene. So there you are!” “Yes,” said Macßae. 41 So there t am! But —are you content, Rollingward?” . “What d’you mean?” “Are you content to marry a girl who. a day or two ago, Vowed that she was in love with another man?” “Now, look here,’ said Rollingward, “I’m hanged if I’m going to stand that sort of thing, Macßae. It’s insulting to Elaine.” Macßae shook his head. “I wouldn’t willingly insult her for the world.” he answered. “I’m merely being what I said I would be —frank. Elaine, haven’t you got anything to say?” She laid a hand on Rollingward's sleeve. “Nothing. Blair. You’ve heard everything that matters. There was no engagement between us, and I’ve told you that I’m going to marry Maurice. I don’t want to lose your friendship, and I’m sure Maurice doesn’t. You’ve both got on so well together that it ’ud seem a dreadful pity if this —this spoiled everything. It’s all a secret as yet. You’re the only one to know, except father —and he’ll know to-night.” “So that’s the way of it!” Macßae remarked. “A second secret engagement, Elaine?”

I-Ie glanced at Rolling ward. “I hope you have better luck than I. Rollingward. Perhaps someone else’ll turn up. and there’ll be a third mutual understanding that is properly understood by only one of the parties.” He had spoken more harshly than he had intended, and. as he saw Elaine wince, remorse bit at him.

“I didn’t mean that. Elaine,” he said. “I spoke like a cad. Will you forgive me?” She nodded.

“Thanks!” he remarked. “Now, 111 say only one thing more. When Mr. Rollingward. and I talked about you some time ago, he spoke like a sportsman. He told me that till an engagement between you and me was definitely announced, he’d consider that, the field was open, and that he’d a right to try to get you for himself. As a matter of fact, I’d forgotten that when I butted in on you ten minutes ago.

“Well. I’m going to say exactly what he said. I think he went further than talking about the engagement { think —you can correct me if you like. Rollingward—he held himself free to strive for you till you were actually married. It’s the same way with me, and just as there was no selfconceit about his statement, so there’s none about mine. You under stand, don’t you—both of you?”

“I do.” Rollingward answered. “I’ll answer for Elaine. But I hope to God. Macßae. that you haven’t a hope.’ Macßae's big shoulders rose and fell.

“It’s such an infernally queer world that one never knows which way the fate-cat is going to jump,” he said “But though we don’t know.liow things will pan out, we know how they stand now. I feel, somehow —this is the stark truth. Rollingward—that though neither you nor 1 are worthy of Elaine, she’s my mate. That’s a strange thing to say. but I believe it.” He looked straight into the girl’s eyes.

“I believe it. Elaine!” he went on “This —this talk we’ve had is another mile-stone on our road. I suppose we’ve struck what reviewers of novels call the eternal triangle. I’m going to work iu that triangle till one side of it is knocked out. I may be the side. I don’t know. I'll say this though—putting the big thing on one side for the moment. I want friendship to remain. How about you. Rollingward ?”

“About me? Oh. I'm the same. Why, dammit all, Macßae, I like you!” “ADd I like you. I suppose I should hate you but I don’t. There’s one hatred in my life and that’s enough.” He put out both hands and both were taken.

“We’re almost certain to meet again to-night,” he said, “but. we won’t be talking again as we’ve talked now. But you’ll remember, Rollingward. that I'm up against you?” His hands dropped back to his sides and for some moments hung there limply. Then as Elaine’s eyes met his. the hands clenched. Turning about, he walked toward

the improvised ballroom and, finding Lilian Manton there, asked her to dance with him. She consented at once and when the dance was over surprised him by saying: “I wonder where Maurice Rollingward has got to? He and I had the supper dance together, and I haven’t seen him since. Plave you. Blair?” “I’m sure I caught sight of him somewhere,” he answered. "You like him, don’t you. Lilian?” "Yes,” she said. "He’s so enthusiastic about everything. When he told me yesterday that he was a couple of years older than me, I could scarcely believe it. You like him. too, don’t you. Blair?” "Of course I do. Pie’s a thundering good fellow. A bit irresponsible perhaps, but he’ll settle down later.” Rollingward and Elaine came into the room then and Macßae, having handed Lilian over to her next partner, went from the hotel. He was glad that he had booked no more dances; was glad that he could go back to his island home to fight out alone there the bitter battle of bis thoughts. CHAPTER XII. A SETBACK A grateful letter from William Noakes in which the ex-convict made out a case for himself by comparing his start in life with the start which Macßae had had. set the latter studying anew regarding Mr. Justice Plart. It so happened that he met the judge that evening when both had gone to Dochrine to replenish their tobacco store. Outwardly affable, they repaired to The Royal Stag and there—nervous tension urging them toward recklessness—they drank locally-distilled whisky, till unaccustomed quantities of the spirit affected them both. The judge passed from unexpressed suspicion to expressed belief in his companion’s enmity. Macßae, on the other band, perhaps because he was a younger and more active man, or perhaps because he had eaten a sandwich-meal by the burn side an hou,r p-eviously, remained the cooler of tbe two. In any case he remained calm while Jhe older man grew incautiously garrulous. "You cau tell me if I’m wrong. MacRae,” the judge said as they were preparing to leave. ‘ 3ut I’ve got it into my head that ever since we met you've been fooling me. You needn't look at ire like that —as though you didn't understand. I know, of course, a 1 about your sup posed love affair with my daughter. and I know. too. that you must feel pretty wretched because she’s going to marry young Rollingward But it. goes deeper than that.” "What does?” Macßae asked.

Having glanced around. Hart leaned forward and tap-tapped on the table by which they sat. "Your hatred of me.” ho said. "It’s not a bit of good your saying anything. Macßae. You do hate me. I know it! I’ve felt it for weeks. I don’t know how I know it. but the know- ; ledge is there. I’ve a fair working |

acquaintanceship with modern slang, and I’ve sense that you’ve ‘had it in’ ■ for me ever since we met in your house. Am I right, or am I wrong?” “Wrong, of course, Sir Charles.” Macßae answered. and laughed. "Why! what a ridiculous idea! Have it in for you? Why on earth should I have il in for you? But I think 1 know what you mean. You’re thinking that I’m bearing a grudge agaiusr | you because you sentenced me to a term of imprisonment which I didn’t deserve?” “Exactly.” Macßae was what is known as a j straight man. but in his dealings with Sir Charles Hart he had lied time and again and had assured himself tha* the lies were justified. "You’re wrong then,” he »aid now. j "If I’ve a grudge against you. it’s one which I’m sensible enough to know I shouldn’t have. You told me that you were working for Maurice Rollingward as against me in our mutual desire to marry Elaine. Beyond that there's no grudge.” "I don’t believe it,” Hart insisted gloomily. “I don’t believe it. MacRae. I'm sorry, because you saved my girl’s life, and if that had been lose, every happiness I’ve got would have been lost. too. 1 wish I could think that you weren't my enemy.” Macßae lighted a cigarette, and before replying, put his foot ou the .burned-out match. "The sooner you switch your thoughts round, the better.” he remarked. "Honestly, I can’t understand your position. As I’ve said to you. and as I’ve said to Elaine, you were merely doing jour job when you sent me to quod. It’s perfectly true that I thought j'our summing-up harmed me in the jurj r 's eyes, and I did feel a certain resentment, once I began to realise the displeasure of prison life. Still, it’s repeating myself to say r that all that’s over and done with. We’ve been friends since we met up here, and I hope the friendship will go on.” “I don’t know,” Hart said. "It would be good for my peace of mind if I thought that we were real friends but —I don’t know.” He was still unconvinced when they motored back up the loch road. When they- had parted. Macßae, watching the other as he drove toward The Lodge, saw him shaking his head. Macßae smiled. He was not given to speaking to bimself aloud, but he said now: "So you think that I bear you a grudge? Good God man! That was one of the sanest thoughts you ever had! ” One night while out fishing and accompanied by Robert PriDgle. MacRae saw fire blazing on Duck Islet and rowed there strenuously. A patch of he at he; aud sun dried bracken was alight and threatened the trees. dam’ fool picnic party-. I expect.” Macßae said. “Anyway, it’s a good think we saw it. Unless a breeze springs up. we can probably beat the fire out.” Arrived at the islet, he found no

picnic party, but a nerve-strung, almost hysterical girl, striving with a boat oar to put out the flames. "You, Elaine!” Macßae exclaimed. “What are j-ou doing here, and all alone? Or are you alone? I suppose there’s someone with you?” She shook her head. “No.” she told him over a shoulder. "L came over b>' myself. 1 meant just to read and to dose, but I lighted a cigarette and threw it away. The next thing I knew was that there was a smell of smoke, and something hot ou my cheek. Help me. Blair! And your man will help, too. won’t he?” "Of course. We’ll do what we cau. but the island may be stripped of trees. If it is. there’ll be an unholy row.” Between them they extinguished the fire, and when the last smouldering heather tuft had been stamped out and the smoke dust was kicked away. Macßae and Elaine looked at each other. They' were still doing so when Pringle came toward them at a run. “You’ll be excusing me. sir.” he said, "but Mr. Rolliugward and Miss Manton and Miss Fairweather have come along in the hotel boat, and they say you’re wanted at The Lodgc. It seems that Sir Charles Hart has taken a bad turn, and Dr. Cairns is away. Will you come now? There’s nothing to wait for, and you see —” "Right!” said Macßae. "Come. Elaine!” She scarcely spoke to him during their journej r across the calm loch and it was not till half-au-hour after reaching The Lodge that he joined her in the room where she was waiting. "Don’t look so worried,” he began. “Your father’s all right. He's got what we call ‘a heart.’ but I’ve fixed him up. and to-morrow he’ll be as right as possible. I know what you’re going to ask me. so I’ll give you tbe answer now. “There’s no reason to be afraid. | Sir Charles is a strong man, and with reasonable care be should live to be an old one. I needn’t have stayed , with him for more than five minutes but he seemed to want to talk_to me. For some reason or other he’s got it into his head that I don’t like him. " “He’s not right, is he?” she asked. To be continued daily.